TAMPA, Fla.—As a kid growing up in Stockton, Calif., Doug Martin’s child-like view of the game of football was that it was little more than an aggressive, big boy’s version of tag. That’s why he always thought he’d be pretty good at it.

You see, Martin used to consider himself the best tag player in his neighborhood, and the way he figured it, if he could dominate a game of tag, he could probably dominate a game of football, too.

Turns out he might have been right.

With more than 60 of the family members and friends that he used to run away from during those games of tag cheering him on, the Buccaneers rookie running back ran into the NFL record books Sunday.

During a 42-32 victory over the Raiders at Oakland’s O.co Coliseum, Martin ran 25 times for 251 yards and four touchdowns to become only the second player in the Super Bowl era to run for at least 250 yards and four touchdowns in a game.

He also became the first player in NFL history to score rushing TDs of 45, 67 and 70 yards in a single game, all while vaulting himself into contention for the NFL’s rushing title, where he ranks third with 794 yards.

“I really just have to kind of take a step back and try to absorb it all," Martin said of his accomplishment. “It’s really just kind of surreal. I mean, I’m just trying to do my job out there."

That running a football has become Martin’s job is rather surreal in itself. After all, it wasn’t until he was a freshman in high school that Martin even considered playing the game.

Far more interested in basketball, Martin didn’t start playing football until some friends suggested he try putting the skills he used in those games of tag to some real use as a running back.

Never having paid much attention to the game, though, Martin had no idea how to play the position. So, in an effort to figure it all out he did what any other kid would have done: he went to his computer and did a Google search.

“A bunch of YouTube videos came up of running backs like Barry Sanders and Walter Payton and Emmitt Smith," Martin said. “So what I did was I just kind of tried to do what they did and take parts of their game and make them my own."

The tactic seems to have worked. In a few short years, the 31st pick in last April’s draft has gone from football novice to a contender for the NFL’s Rookie of the Year honors. Bucs coach Greg Schiano isn’t surprised.

“He’s a very patient runner with really good vision, and that’s hard to teach," Schiano said. “The great backs I’ve been around, they all either have that or they don’t.

“You can teach them plays and blocking schemes and all those things, but guys like Doug, they have a certain feel, a balance and strength, and when you have all those things, it’s usually a pretty good package."

Martin’s package of skills has been compared most often to Ravens running back Ray Rice. In recent weeks, though, Martin’s style has been compared to that of an even more notable back, one he’s rather familiar with.

“I’ve been saying since he first got here that he’s got a little bit of Emmitt Smith in him," Bucs veteran defensive back Ronde Barber said. “He’s got that shiftiness about him, for sure, that Emmitt had."

He’s got a quick burst through the hole, too, and he used that along with his vision and balance to churn out those long gains against the Raiders, who are convinced they won’t be the last team victimized by Martin’s skill set.

“He’s really shifty and he’s got good speed and vision," linebacker Philip Wheeler said. “He’s a good back and you’re going to see a lot more of that out of him. He’s just a really good back."

As good as he is, he’s still learning, literally while on the run. Such was the case against the Raiders, whom Martin struggled to gain much ground against during the first half, largely because of a fundamental flaw.

While watching him run eight times for just 31 yards in that half, Schiano noticed that Martin was dropping his head as he ran through the hole, which was robbing him of the balance he needed to turn short runs into breakout gains.

Martin made the necessary adjustment at the half, and the game quickly changed as a result as he ran for 61 yards and a touchdown on his next three carries before breaking off the 67- and 70-yard TD runs that followed.

“I was getting to the line and stumbling on a few runs and so coach told me to, ‘just keep your head up,’ " Martin said. “After that, I did what he said and it helped me keep my balance and then, it was off to the races."

Martin’s sudden surge in the race for the NFL’s rushing title has put the Bucs back into the race for an NFC wild-card berth, and with Martin leading the offense, Barber likes his team’s chances in that race.

“We have forever been the kind of team that just kind of stuck around and stuck around in games," Barber said. “But now we’re scoring a lot of points, and that’s huge.

“It’s really fun to watch this team and to watch a guy like Doug Martin. All the praise he’s getting he deserves because the kind of stuff he’s doing right now, that’s the stuff that gives a team a winning edge."